Live Performance From Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros And We Talk With Leader Alex Ebert

Right from the beginning Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes have been an amazing live band. They brought people together even before their first album Up from Below which contained the crowd pleasing love song "Home." Today we will hear live performances from The XPoNential Music Festival

The powerful roots-stompin', folk-anthem-beltin' dectet we all know and love is making a return to the XPoNential Music Festival. We can't wait to hear fun singalongs like "Home," and their sophomore album "Here" totes hits like "Man On Fire" not worth missing live. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros last played the XPoNential Music Festival in 2010. The boys will release a new self-titled album on July 23!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic ZerosListen to the Concert Audio - The 11-person psychedelic folk band performed songs from its new album.

Finishing out this Live Friday perfomance is another XPN favorite, the fabulously invigorating folk collective Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Breaking out in 2009, riding the strength of their catchy single 'Home', the currently 11-person outfit revolves around vocalist Alex Ebert. Ebert started ES and the MZ after creating a fictional, messianic character named Edward Sharpe while dealing with addiction and life changes. The result is mesmerizing--from their school bus converted to a tour bus, back-porch and improvised acoustics, and big communal folk sound, ES and the MZ has quickly become something of a worldwide sensation. Their sound calls to mind influences such as Polyphonic Spree and Bob Marley, but it's hard to pin a single genre on their psychedelic rocking bluegrass-y neo-folk.

ES and the MZ are on the cusp of releasing their follow-up to their breakout album, 2009's "Up from Below". Fresh off appearances with Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show, ES and the MZ played the new release, entitled "Here", in Santa Monica in April. It doesn't disappoint--"Here" is a product of a group that know how to collaborate, how to live together, and how to share a musical, utopian vision in the most believeable of ways. From the quiet whistling in "All Wash Out" to the energizing, rock-based "Man on Fire", this is an album that will help solidify ES and the MS' appeal.

Don't miss out on this special Free at Noon performance--three great artists in two locations. What better way to start the weekend?

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros play a full show May 11 at the Tower Theater.

Spiritualized

Spirtualized is the neo-psychedelic outfit with Jason Pierce (J. Spaceman) at the center. Formed out of the ashes of Pierce's previous group, Spaceman 3, Spiritualized has been creating grand, lush panoramas of space rock, deeply influenced by soul, gospel, and all things Velvet Underground. Following a dramatic initial release in 1990, Spiritualized has since gone through numerous line-up changes, released seven full-lengths that evince an evolving sound (think perhaps shoegaze to blues to pop), and pushed the boundaries of live performance. Pierce has done everything from shooting a video on an erupting volcano to performing 114 stories in the air to sharing a stage with Depeche Mode.

Sweet Heart Sweet Light is the seventh studio album of Spiritualized, and it has been three years in the making. Featuring eleven poppy tracks, more so than any previous Spiritualized release, Sweet Heart Sweet Light is crisp and invigorating. Its deft combination of rock'n'roll and gospel is no doubt made all the more poignant by Pierce's experience with chemotherapy while mixing Sweet Heart Sweet Light.

In addition to the XPN Free At Noon, Spiritualized plays a full show at the TLA on Friday night, May 11 at 8pm w/ Nikki Lane.

Dar Williams - Live from World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington

One of our favorites in this triple-header is long-time XPN listener favorite, folk songstress Dar Williams. Dar Williams will play XPN's Free At Noon at World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington at 12:30pm.

Williams began her foray into folk while in Boston, making the coffee shop rounds and recording her own demos. Her brand of pop-inspired confessional folk soon caught the eye of folk legend Joan Baez, who subsequently recorded some of Williams' songs. Since then, Williams has released a grand total of 18 highly acclaimed releases. She's shared the stage with the likes of Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, Mary Chapin Carter, and Joan Baez. And finally, she's been able to fine-tune her knack for delivering emotion on-stage.

William's latest release, In the Time of Gods, represents something of a return to her more traditional folk leanings--less pop and more pensivity. Thematically centered on classical Greek mythology, the album explores accessible narratives based on mythological personalities. Of course, it's all held together by Williams' arousing melodies and insightful lyrics.

Free At Noon SetlistDar Williams Performance will be available here
1. The Light and the Sea
2. I Am the One Who Will Remember Everything
3. You Will Ride With Me Tonight
4. Babysitter
5. Are You Out There
6. I Have Been Around the World

When you first listen to Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros it's difficult not to be captivated by their revivalist style of jangly folk-rock. It's somewhat striking, an open departure in the current landscape of indie rock. And the band has created a big buzz locally in Los Angeles due in large part to their lively stage shows and their debut album Up From Below.